Vehicle antiskid braking systems

ABSTRACT

A valve having an annular inlet valve seat and an annular exhaust valve seat arranged concentrically and a flap valve diaphragm which is engageable at its outer peripheral portion with the inlet seat and at its central portion with the exhaust seat and which can flex to uncover either the inlet seat or the exhaust seat, a stem being secured to the flap valve diaphragm and to a second diaphragm and being arranged to balance the pressures acting on the flap valve diaphragm, of which the following is a specification.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority John Walter Davis Balsall Common, Coventry, England 761,681

Sept. 23, 1968 Apr. 20, 197 1 The Dunlop Company Limited London, England Sept. 30, 1967 Great Britain VEHICLE ANTISKID BRAKING SYSTEMS 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI. 303/21, 137/102, 303/40, 303/68 Int. Cl B60t 8/00, B60t 15/00 FieldofSearch 137/102 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,893,381 7/1959 Black 137/102X 3,070,108 12/1962 Fischer.... 137/102X 3,188,148 6/1965 Eaton 303/21 FOREIGN PATENTS 518,431 2/1940 Great Britain 137/102 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-John J. McLaughlin, .I r. Attomey.lelfers & Young IO 32 l A PATENTED APR 20 5571 SHEET 2 OF 3 VlEliilltllLlE Alitlllll lllllhlhlltllblfl hifSThll/HS This invention relates to fluid flow control valves of the kind which permits flow between either of two connections to the valve and a third connection, particularly for use in antisltid devices for pneumatically-operated brake systems.

A lrnown valve of this ltind has an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber separated by a flap-valve diaphragm and an exhaust passage communicating with a valve seat located within the outlet chamber and engageable with the central portion of the flap-valve diaphragm to seal the exhaust passage. When pressure in the inlet chamber exceeds that in the outlet chamber the flap valve yields to allow communication between the two chambers and at the same time to seal the exhaust passage. When the pressure in the outlet chamber exceeds that in the inlet chamber the flap valve closes and if the pressure difference is sufficiently great the central portion of the flap valve yields to uncover the exhaust passage. With this kind of valve the pressure in the inlet chamber keeping the central portion of the flap valve in sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat acts over a larger area than does the pressure in the outlet chamber tending to open the exhaust.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluid flow control valve.

According to the invention a valve comprises a valve body having an inlet chamber, bounded by an inlet valve seat, and an outlet chamber formed therein and separated by a flexible diaphragm flap valve, the diaphragm having a valve member associated therewith for sealing engagement with an exhaust valve seat located within the outlet chamber and communicating with an exhaust passage, a stern being secured to the flap-valve diaphragm and to a second diaphragm attached to the valve body, the'arrangement of the stem being such as to effect a substantial balancing of the pressures acting on the flap valve when the valve member is in sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat.

in one embodiment of the invention the stem is located within the inlet chamber and has a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the second diaphragm, the two 'diaphragms being axially spaced and the second diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side only being exposed to pressure in the inlet chamber so that pressure in the inlet chamber exerts a thrust on the second diaphragm in opposition to the thrust exerted on the flap-valve diaphragm by the said pressure.

in a further embodiment of the invention the stem is of tubular form and the two diaphragms are each of annular form, the second diaphragm being secured at its inner periphery to the valve body and at its outer periphery to the stem and the flap-valve diaphragm being secured at its inner periphery to the stem so that the area of the flap-valve diaphragm on which pressure in the inlet chamber acts to move the valve member into sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat is equal to the area of the flap valve diaphragm on which the pressure in the outlet chamber acts to move the valve member out of engagement with the exhaust valve seat.

deveral embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

HG. ii is an axial cross-sectional view of a valve according to the invention; and

M68. 2 and 3 are axial cross-sectional views of alternative valves according to the invention.

lFlG. ll shows a valve which comprises a valve body 1 tormed from two parts 2, h secured together by bolts d, and the outer periphery of a flap-valve diaphragm d is trapped between the two parts 2, to give an elastomeric seal.

The interior of the body 1 forms a main chamber a which is divided into an inlet chamber 7 and an outlet chamber h by the flap-valve diaphragm f, and on one side of the diaphragm ii, an axial exhaust passage 9 opens to the chamber 6 and terminates in a seat iii. The central portion ll of the diaphragm 5 acts as a valve member for sealing engagement with the seat W.

The exhaust passage 9 is formed within a screw-threaded bore in the body part 3, the bore 12 housing a threaded sleeve 13 so as to enable the position of the seat 10 formed by the inner end of the sleeve to be adjusted. An O-ring seal M about the sleeve 13 and a locltnut 15 to hold it in position are also provided.

On the opposite side of the diaphragm to the exhaust passage 9 and seat 110, an inlet seat consisting of an axially projecting annular flange H6 is formed in the part 2 of the body 1 and defines the inlet chamber 7. A radially extending inlet passage 17 communicating with the inlet chamber 7 is formed in the body part 2. The seat 16 is coaxial with the exhaust passage 9 and of larger diameter so that inlet supply pressure acts on an area of the diaphragm 5 to flex the diaphragm, so as to increase the seal on the seat 10 whilst permitting movement of the diaphragm 5 away from the inlet seat to to allow communication between the inlet chamber 7 and the outlet chamber 8.

A spring 18 extends between the diaphragm 5 and the opposite face of the outlet chamber 8 and seats on a cup 19 contacting the diaphragm 5 on the side opposite to the inlet seat to.

The spring 18 urges the flap valve diaphragm 5 into sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat 16, and the amount by which the pressure in the inlet chamber 7 must exceed the pressure in the outlet chamber 8 to move the diaphragm 5 out of engagement with the inlet seat re is-dependent upon the strength of the spring.

Apertures 20 are provided in the outer peripheral portion of the flap-valve diaphragm 5 to allow communication between the inlet chamber 7 and the outlet chamber 8 when the flapvalve diaphragm 5 is moved out of engagement with the valve seat 116. The apertures also serve to reduce the stiffness of the diaphragm 5. I

An outlet passage 21 is formed in the body part 2 and communicates with the outlet chamber h through the apertures 20.

The central portion 11 of the flap-valve diaphragm 5 which acts as a valve member for sealing engagement with the seat id is secured to one end of a stem, which consists of a sleeve 22, by means of a bolt 23 passing through the sleeve and a locking nut 24-. The stem 22 extends axially with respect to the valve body 1 within the inlet chamber 7. The inlet chamber 7 is sealed by a cap 2 which is secured to the body part 2 by means of bolts 2a The cap defines a subsidiary chamber 27 which houses the other end 28 of the stem 22. A second annular diaphragm 29 is secured at its inner periphery to the stem 22 and its outer periphery is trapped between the cap 25 and the body part 2.

The second diaphragm 29 separates the subsidiary chamber 27 from the inlet chamber 7 and the diaphragm 29 is exposed to the pressure within the subsidiary chamber 27 on one side and to the pressure within the inlet chamber 7 on its other side.

The bolt 23 is provided with an axial bore 30 so that the pressure in the subsidiary chamber 27 is maintained the same as the pressure in the exhaust passage 9.

The stem 22 is supported by the flapvalve diaphragm 5 and the second diaphragm Z9 and is freely spaced from the body part 2.

The area contained by the line of contact of the second diaphragm 29 with the valve body 11 is equal to the area of the central portion ll of the flap-valve diaphragm d defined by the valve seat l0. With this arrangement the thrust exerted on the second diaphragm 29 due to the pressure in the inlet chamber 7 is equal to the thrust exerted on the central portion ill of the flap-valve diaphragm 5 due to the pressure in the inlet chamber '7. Since the two diaphragms are joined together by the valve stem 22 these thrusts cancel out and effectively the area of the flap-valve diaphragm 5 on which the pressure in the inlet chamber acts to hold the diaphragm 5 in sealing engagement with the valve seat 10 is equal to the area of the diaphragm on which the pressure in the outlet chamber acts to lift the diaphragm 5 off the valve seat 10. Thus the diaphragm 5 is balanced and only a small pressure difference is required to lift the diaphragm 5 off the exhaust seat 10.

in the embodiment shown in FlG. 2 the stem 22 is secured to the diaphragm 5 by means of a bolt 23 having a washer 32 arranged between the head 31 of the bolt 23 and the diaphragm 5, the washer 32 acting as a valve member engageable with the exhaust seat to seal the exhaust passage 9. The exhaust passage 9 is open to the atmosphere and the cap 25 has a hole 33 formed therein so that the subsidiary chamber 27 is open to the atmosphere. A spring 34 is also provided between the locking nut 24 and the cap 25 to urge the valve member 32 into sealing engagement with the exhaust seat 10.

ln the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the flap-valve diaphragm 5 and the second diaphragm 29 are each annular in form and are formed integrally. The valve stem 22 is formed from two rings 35, 36 secured together by bolts 37 trapping the inner periphery of the flap-valve diaphragm 25 and the outer periphery of the second diaphragm 29 therebetween. The inner periphery of the second diaphragm is secured to an axially extending portion 38 of the valve body.

The stem 22 has a radially inwardly extending circumferential flange 39 formed thereon to which is secured a sealing member in the form of rubber ring 40 which constitutes the valve member for sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat 10.

A spring 41 is arranged between the stem and the valve body to urge the valve member 40 into sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat 10.

The pressure in the inlet chamber 7 acts on both diaphragms. The area of the flap-valve diaphragm 5 on which the pressure in the inlet chamber 7 acts to hold the valve member 49 in sealing engagement with the exhaust seat 10 is equal to the area of the diaphragm 5 on which the pressure in the outlet chamber 8 acts to lift the valve member 40 off the exhaust seat 16. The pressure acting on the second diaphragm 2 is balanced by the pressure acting on the radially inwardly extending flange 39.

The valves described above may be used in a pneumatic braking system of the kind described in the specification of our U.S. Pat. No. 3,4ll,835, issued Jul. 7, 1966, Vehicle Antiskid Braking Systeminvented by John Walter Davis in which brake-applying pressure is applied to a chamber housing a diaphragm so a to displace a rod connected to the diaphragm for brake application. Skid avoidance is achieved by applying counterpressurc to the diaphragm and this involves increase of pressure in the chamber which is vented to exhaust by a twoway valve interposed in the supply line. The valves described above may take the place of the two-way valve. When the brakes are applied, pressure in the inlet chamber 7 displaces the flap-valve diaphragm 5 against the spring 18 to allow flow over the inlet seat 16 to the outlet chamber 8, and when pressure in the outlet chamber 8 exceeds that in the inlet chamber 7 due to application of brake-releasing pressure, the diaphragm 5 flexes to prevent flow from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber and to open the exhaust.

The valves described above have balanced flap-valve diaphragms and consequently high sensitivity. That is, only a small excess of pressure is required in the outlet chamber to cause the diaphragm to yield and open the exhaust.

In addition the stem is wholly supported by the two diaphragms so that there is small frictional resistance to movement and movement is not impeded by unavoidable dirt or moisture often present pneumatic systems.

lclaim:

1. A valve comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet chambers formed therein, a flexible diaphragm flap valve forming a separating wall between said inlet 'and outlet chambers an inlet valve seal sealingly and operatively engageable by said flap valve to control communication between said inlet and outlet chambers, an exhaust valve seat located with in said outlet chamber and operatively communicating with an exhaust passage, said flap-valve diaphragm being movable to control communication between said outlet chamber and said exhaust passage, said diaphragm flap valve being flexible between a first position and a second position opening one or the other of said inlet valve seat or said exhaust valve seat, a stem operatively secured to said flapvalve diaphragm at one end thereof, a second diaphragm attached to said valve body and to the end portion of said stem, said stem being constructed and arranged to provide communication of balancing pressures acting on opposite sides of said flap valve as said flap valve is in sealing position relatively to said exhaust valve seat.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the stem is supported solely by the flap-valve diaphragm and the second diaphragm and is freely spaced from the valve body.

3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the flap-valve diaphragm extends radially outwards beyond the inlet valve seat and the valve body is formed from two parts, the outer periphery of the flap-valve diaphragm being trapped between the two parts to form a seal.

4. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the radially outer peripheral portion of the flap-valve diaphragm between the portion for engagement with the inlet valve seat and the portion trapped between the parts of the valve body is provided with a plurality of holes to allow communication between the two chambers when the flap-valve diaphragm is moved out of sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat.

5. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the stem is located within the inlet chamber and has a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the flap-valve diaphragm and the second end being secured to the second diaphragm, the two diaphragms being axially spaced and the second diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side only being exposed to pressure in the inlet chamber so that pressure in the inlet chamber exerts a thrust on the second diaphragm in opposition to the thrust exerted on the flap-valve diaphragm by the said pressure.

6. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the stem comprises a tubular sleeve and is secured to the flap-valve diaphragm by means of a bolt passing through the tubular sleeve.

7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein the valve member comprises a washer secured to the flap-valve diaphragm by means of the bolt.

8. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the second diaphragm is of annular shape and is secured to the second end of the stem at its inner periphery and to the valve body at its outer periphery.

9. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the second end of the stem is located within a subsidiary chamber formed in the valve body and separated from the inlet chamber by means of the second diaphragm, the second side of the diaphragm being exposed to'pressure within the subsidiary chamber.

10. A valve according to claim 9 wherein the exhaust passage and the subsidiary chamber are open to the atmosphere.

11. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the flap-valve diaphragm is spring urged into sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat.

12. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the valve member is spring urged into sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat. 

1. A valve comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet chambers formed therein, a flexible diaphragm flap valve forming a separating wall between said inlet and outlet chambers, an inlet valve seal sealingly and operatively engageable by said flap valve to control communication between said inlet and outlet chambers, an exhaust valve seat located with in said outlet chamber and operatively communicating with an exhaust passage, said flap-valve diaphragm being movable to control communication between said outlet chamber and said exhaust passage, said diaphragm flap valve being flexible between a first position and a second position opening one or the other of said inlet valve seat or said exhaust valve seat, a stem operatively secured to said flap-valve diaphragm at one end thereof, a second diaphragm attached to said valve body and to the end portion of said stem, said stem being constructed and arranged to provide communication of balancing pressures acting on opposite sides of said flap valve as said flap valve is in sealing position relatively to said exhaust valve seat.
 2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the stem is supported solely by the flap-valve diaphragm and the second diaphragm and is freely spaced from the valve body.
 3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the flap-valve diaphragm extends radially outwards beyond the inlet valve seat and the valve body is formed from two parts, the outer periphery of the flap-valve diaphragm being trapped between the two parts to form a seal.
 4. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the radially outer peripheral portion of the flap-valve diaphragm between the portion for engagement with the inlet valve seat and the portion trapped between the parts of the valve body is provided with a plurality of holes to allow communication between the two chambers when the flap-valve diaphragm is moved out of sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat.
 5. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the stem is located within the inlet chamber and has a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the flap-valve diaphragm and the second end being secured to the second diaphragm, the two diaphragms being axially spaced and the second diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side only being exposed to pressure in the inlet chamber so that pressure in the inlet chamber exerts a thrust on the second diaphragm in opposition to the thrust exerted on the flap-valve diaphragm by the said pressure.
 6. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the stem comprises a tubular sleeve and is secured to the flap-valve diaphragm by means of a bolt passing through the tubular sleeve.
 7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein the valve member comprises a washer secured to the flap-valve diaphragm by means of the bolt.
 8. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the second diaphragm is of annular shape and is secured to the second end of the stem at its inner periphery and to the valve body at its outer periphery.
 9. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the second end of the stem is located within a subsidiary chamber formed in the valve body and separated from the inlet chambeR by means of the second diaphragm, the second side of the diaphragm being exposed to pressure within the subsidiary chamber.
 10. A valve according to claim 9 wherein the exhaust passage and the subsidiary chamber are open to the atmosphere.
 11. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the flap-valve diaphragm is spring urged into sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat.
 12. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the valve member is spring urged into sealing engagement with the exhaust valve seat. 